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James HEATLY
Sport Diving
NOC Great Britain   
GenderMen
Born20 May 1997 in Edinburgh, SCO
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Other information
 EMULATING HIS GRANDFATHER
He won a bronze medal in the 1m springboard at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, which was the first Scottish diving medal at the Commonwealth Games since his late grandfather Peter Heatly won gold in the 10m platform at the 1958 Games in Cardiff, Wales. A few months prior to the 2018 Games, in December 2017, he equalled his grandfather's record of 27 Scottish national diving titles. He says watching videos of his grandfather diving revealed how much the sport had changed in 60 years. "The technique [in the 1950s] was so different. In his day the springboard was not much more than a plank with coconut matting. They would hit the water, but never ripped [rip entry]. Now everyone has figured out the completely no-splash entry. The springboard is now a real flexible thing, and conditions are much better." (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Apr 2018; scotsman.com, 11 Apr 2018; pressandjournal.co.uk, 11 Apr 2018; heraldscotland.com, 26 Jun 2015)

MENTAL FOCUS
Speaking in early 2020 he said he had made changes to the mental side of his training that had improved his diving. "In competitions, I've become quite good at only focusing on what I can control - it's the day-in, day-out at training I've been working on. The dives we do can be quite scary and so it's tough to do them every day in training without the adrenaline of competition. Particularly when you're learning something new, say if you're adding a somersault or a twist or something, it messes with what you're used to so it can be quite scary the first few times. But after you've taken a few hits, you know what way is up. I definitely feel like I've taken a step up recently." (glasgowtimes.co.uk, 22 Mar 2020)
Further Personal Information
Residence
 Edinburgh, SCO
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
 Edinburgh Diving Club: Scotland
General Interest
Injuries
 In 2015 he underwent knee surgery to remove an extra bit of bone on his left kneecap that was affecting muscle development. (The Herald Glasgow, 27 Jun 2015)
Famous relatives
 His grandfather Peter Heatly represented Great Britain in diving at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games, and won gold medals for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 1950, 1954 and 1958. He was also chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation from 1982 to 1990. His father Robert has been chief executive officer of Scottish Hockey. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Apr 2020; sportscotland.org.uk, 2014; edinburghnews.scotsman.com, 28 Dec 2011; scottish-hockey.org.uk, 26 May 2011; teamscotland.scot, 15 Apr 2018)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
 While living in the United States of America due to his father's posting with the British Royal Marines, he was encouraged to try the sport by his grandfather who was a competitive diver in his youth. "We were living in America and [my grandfather] was visiting. We had a pool in our back garden and I would dive in from the poolside. At that point we knew we were moving back [to Scotland], so he said when I move back I should join Edinburgh Diving Club. He was the influence. If it wasn't for him I would not even have started."
General Interest
Hero / Idol
 British divers Peter Heatly [his grandfather] and Tom Daley. (edinburghnews.scotsman.com, 05 Feb 2014)
Ambitions
 To compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. (edinburghnews.scotsman.com, 06 Dec 2021)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach
 Jen Leeming
When and where did you begin this sport?
 He took up diving at age 10 after doing gymnastics and trampolining.
Further Personal Information
Occupation
 Athlete
Languages
 English
Sport Specific Information
Coach from which country?
 England

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
9 2021 Tokyo, JPN 3m Springboard 411.00 
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2022 Budapest, HUN Team Event 357.60
3 2022 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard Synchro 287.61
9 2019 Gwangju, KOR 1m Springboard 372.15
Preliminary Round 2019 Gwangju, KOR 3m Springboard 315.40
9 2017 Budapest, HUN 1m Springboard 374.50
Grand Prix
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2020 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard 424.25
2 2019 Calgary, AB, CAN 3m Springboard 476.65
3 2019 Mission Viejo, CA, USA 3m Springboard 416.65
17 2019 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard 319.50
13 2018 Bolzano, ITA 3m Springboard 363.75
5 2018 Bolzano, ITA 3m Springboard Synchro 366.33
2 2018 Bolzano, ITA 10m Platform Synchro 362.16
14 2018 Calgary, AB, CAN 3m Springboard 353.80
5 2018 Calgary, AB, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 376.20
11 2017 Gold Coast, QLD, AUS 3m Springboard 337.10
2 2017 Gold Coast, QLD, AUS 10m Platform Synchro 341.70
4 2017 San Juan, PUR 3m Springboard 418.50
1 2017 San Juan, PUR 3m Springboard Synchro 372.72
11 2016 Bolzano, ITA 3m Springboard 373.35
7 2016 Bolzano, ITA 3m Springboard Synchro 332.07
4 2015 Bolzano, ITA 3m Springboard 411.65
30 2014 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 300.95
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
12 2023 Kraków, POL 1m Springboard 323.30
2 2023 Kraków, POL 3m Springboard Synchro 283.89
4 2023 Kraków, POL 3m Springboard Synchro 393.45
2 2022 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard Synchro 290.76 
3 2022 Rome, ITA Team Event 384.70
4 2021 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard 464.60
3 2019 Kiev, UKR 3m Springboard 439.90
3 2018 Glasgow, SCO 1m Springboard 391.70
4 2018 Glasgow, SCO Team Event 343.15
9 2017 Kiev, UKR 3m Springboard 395.60
3 2017 Kiev, UKR 3m Springboard Synchro 395.61
World Series
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2015 London, ENG 3m Springboard Synchro 299.76